Tow socket wiring

Does anyone know if those annoying indicator buzzers the tow bar installers insist on fitting are actually a legal requirement and if so does it apply to a 1972 vehicle? Greg

Reply to
Greg
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Greg uttered summat worrerz funny about:

No it won't apply to a 1972 vehicle but I think you will need a lamp of some sort to display when the trailer lights are flashing.

Lee D

Reply to
Lee_D

The law states you have to have either audible or visual, but that applies to all ages of vehicle !

Steve

Reply to
METWO

In message , Lee_D writes

You need audible or visible warning that the trailer indicators are either flashing or not flashing when they should be. The advantage of the buzzer to the installer and manufacturer is that they don't require an extra wire running through to the dash.

Don't know about the pre 1972 bit though.

Reply to
hugh

I don't recall Series III's as having any "warning" device?

Richard

Reply to
beamendsltd

But it can always fail in the course of your journey. Make sure that it is present but non-functioning rather than just absent.

Reply to
Dougal

I have a tow socket and no warning light on my 2a and it hasnt failed its MOT yet in 5 years or so.

The car does have a light on the dash but it isnt connected to owt and thats never failed either.

Reply to
Tom Woods

It's not MOT-testable. Functionality is only a 'concern' when a trailer is attached.

Reply to
Dougal

The idea of the warning lamp /and /or buzzer is that one is reminded that there is a trailer dangling on the back of your motor and you can look back in your mirror and watch the trailer wheel clip the curb, just missing the feet of the jay walker waiting to cross the road :-)

Reply to
Fred

Not even a horn push ?

Reply to
Fred

Do you have a link to that please Steve?, I'm sure that new vehicles have to have one or the installers wouldn't fit them but every other new requirement (hazards, reversing light, rear fog etc) seems to have a 'non-retrospective' clause so I'm puzzled why this one doesn't.

Greg

Reply to
Greg

No as far as I can find they didn't, and as other requirements they've added are non-retrospective I'm hoping I don't have to have one of the damn things

8-). Greg
Reply to
Greg

Now that's one way around it 8-) Greg

Reply to
Greg

The whole tow bar and electrics are non-testable, though I'm blowed if I can see the logic of that as they're no harder to test than any thing else!. But I like to be squeaky clean so I have no worries about being stopped for whatever reason, or the insurance company squirming out of a payout. Greg

Reply to
Greg

On or around Thu, 14 Sep 2006 21:44:37 +0100, Tom Woods enlightened us thusly:

it's not in the MOT - no trailer socket wiring is... But that doesn't mean it isn't law.

Reply to
Austin Shackles

Not often! (Wading...)

Richard

Reply to
beamendsltd

In message , beamendsltd writes

It isn't the vehicle that has them, but rather the tow kit which must add it. Defenders and some cars had a light fitted in the dash for the purpose, but then the bean counters realised that the vast majority of cars manufactured never have a towbar fitted.

Reply to
hugh

In message , Tom Woods writes

The fact that it hasn't failed its MOT on a particular point doesn't necessarily mean it's road legal. It must comply with Construction and Use Regulations at all times.

Police forces in the popular holiday areas are increasingly making spot checks on caravan outfits.

Reply to
hugh

Glad to see that in these challenging times our police are still able to prioritise their resource

Reply to
mv

||| The fact that it hasn't failed its MOT on a particular point doesn't ||| necessarily mean it's road legal. It must comply with Construction ||| and Use Regulations at all times. ||| ||| Police forces in the popular holiday areas are increasingly making ||| spot checks on caravan outfits. || || || Glad to see that in these challenging times our police are still || able to prioritise their resource || -- || john

Yes, you'd think they had some middle-class taxpayers doing 31mph to see to. :-)

Reply to
Richard Brookman

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